Ha Seok-ju Recalls Mexico Match: "Remember My Red Card and Be Careful"

[Anchor]

Ahead of the match against Mexico, our team met with Ha Seok-ju, head coach of Ajou University, who scored South Korea's first-ever opening goal against Mexico at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Coach Ha also has the painful memory of being sent off immediately after that goal. Reporter Cho Min-ki shares what advice he had for the current players.

[Reporter]

For Ha Seok-ju, head coach of Ajou University, the moment he scored South Korean football's first-ever World Cup opening goal against Mexico in the first group stage match of the 1998 France World Cup remains vivid.

[Ha Seok-ju/Head Coach, Ajou University: I think I hit it hard, and it deflected off the opponent's head and went in. I felt like, 'Wow, we might actually win this,' and the atmosphere was really great.]

He celebrated with his arms wide open, but the joy lasted less than three minutes.

He was sent off for a back tackle on an opponent, marking the only red card of his football career, and had to leave the pitch.

[Ha Seok-ju/Head Coach, Ajou University: As I was running in to apply pressure, I sort of slipped, and my leg went in.]

The national team eventually lost 3-1, and following a shocking defeat in the subsequent match against the Netherlands, then-head coach Cha Bum-kun was dismissed mid-tournament. Coach Ha went through such a difficult time that he even considered retirement.

[Ha Seok-ju/Head Coach, Ajou University: I had disappointed so many fans and felt I had committed such a great sin against Coach Cha Bum-kun, so I thought about retiring from the national team...]

Now, as fate would have it, South Korean football is set to face Mexico again in North America, following their meeting at the Russia World Cup. Coach Ha advised his juniors to use his experience as a lesson.

[Ha Seok-ju/Head Coach, Ajou University: Since there is VAR now, I hope they will always think of me and be careful to avoid a red card.]

Coach Ha expressed his hope that his juniors would secure their first World Cup victory against Mexico and write a new chapter in the history of South Korean football.

[Ha Seok-ju/Head Coach, Ajou University: I hope they return after a tournament where all our citizens can praise them as heroes.]

(Video reporting: Yang Doo-won, Video editing: Choi Jin-hwa)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.